Arlington Heights Resident to Run Chicago Marathon with TeamJUF

This Sunday, 32 Chicagoans will run the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon as part of the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago’s first ever TeamJUF. Runners will include JUF Chairman of the Board David T. Brown, Israel’s Consul General Roey Gilad, as well as an Arlington Heights resident and former JUF client who is now a donor.

TeamJUF runner Tiger Nigamatzyanov, a Russian native who moved to Chicago with his mother in 2005, said at a recent event that he feels a deep sense of gratitude to JUF and is excited to give back.

“We lived in a small 2-bedroom apartment for the first year, and I remember receiving my first food package for Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year), thanks to a JUF-funded program,” he said. “I was amazed at how this small kindness made me feel at home in this new country.”

Nigamatzyanov and his family also received health care and vocational services from JUF-funded agencies. “JUF helped me to achieve the American dream, and create a new home for my family in Chicago. Now it’s my turn to give back, and help those in need like I was helped.”

As of Oct. 8, the team had raised $49,253 toward their $50,000 goal. Proceeds will support JUF’s life-changing work caring for people in need and sustaining the Jewish community.

TeamJUF supporters will cheer runners on at the marathon’s Charity Block Party, and individual donation pages are available online. For more information, visit: http://www.juf.org/Marathon/